Last Updated on February 14, 2025 by Kieran Beckles
Are you thinking about investing in a Toniebox for your child, but you’re unsure whether it’s worth the cost?
My wife and I were first introduced to the Toniebox and Tonies a year ago, and it’s been a huge hit with our toddler.
Aside from the fact our daughter loves her Toniebox, her array of Tonies has played a big part in her bedtime routine (and helped us!).
In this article, I’m going to share my pros and cons of the Toniebox, based on my experience using Tonies in my day-to-day life with my three-year-old.
If you’re ready to invest in a new Toniebox right now, you can save $15 off your purchase when you click the button below.
Toniebox Pros
Toddler approved
I want to start by sharing just how much my toddler loves her Toniebox and Tonies. Of the many toys we’ve purchased, her Toniebox is one of her absolute favorites. She’s obsessed with listening in the morning when she gets home from school and at bedtime (more on that later). We were first introduced to the Toniebox when we had a playdate. Now we’ve recommended it to all our friends who are parents.
No screen
It can be hard to prise your toddler away from the screen. We try our best to limit our girl’s TV time, but it can be a challenge, especially as business owners. We love that the Toniebox doesn’t have a screen but provides our toddler with hours of entertainment. She’s going through an Angelina Ballerina phase at the moment, but introducing the Angelina Ballerina Tonie has been a big hit. Having watched the TV episodes on repeat, the Toniebox has given our toddler a new way to enjoy Angelina Ballerina. We have no problem with our daughter using her Toniebox as much as she wants because there’s no screen.
Ease of use
My toddler figured out how to use her Toniebox very quickly on Christmas morning. It’s simple to use for kids and technophobe adults, too. Provided your Toniebox is charged, you need to pop your Tonie of choice on top of the box and it will start to play. You can use the ears to increase and decrease the volume. To skip a track, you tap the Toniebox.
Expansive range
There are so many Tonies to choose from. There’s something for everyone. Naturally, you’ll find lots of Disney favorites such as Elsa, Simba, Belle and Mirabel. Popular TV shows are covered thanks to Spidey, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig and more. You can purchase book favorites like Llama Llama and Paddington Bear. According to Google, there are over 70 tonies across a spectrum of genres (story, creative, musical and educational Tonies).
Creative Tonies
You can also purchase Creative Tonies. These are Tonies that allow parents, family members and friends record messages or stories to be put on the Tonie. Using the app on your phone, you’re able to record a story or upload a story file to put on your Creative Tonie. My daughter loves her Creative Tonie to hear stories from family members living in other parts of the world.
Bedtime routine
The Toniebox has become an integral part of our toddler’s bedtime routine. Before the Toniebox, we’d spend 30-45 minutes reading books and inventing bedtime stories. The request for more and more made-up stories led us to the Toniebox. Now, we still spend 30 minutes reading books and tell a couple of our own stories. But my toddler is quite happy to listen to her Angelina Ballerina Tonie before eventually falling asleep.
Durable
Just like all toddlers, our daughter is liable to test the durability of her toys, including the Toniebox. It’s a soft and squishable box designed to withstand life in a toddler’s bedroom or a busy household.
Portable
The Toniebox is perfect for taking on vacation. We recently packed our Toniebox in our checked bag for a holiday with family in Dallas. Our toddler picked her favorite five Tonies to bring with her. We made sure to pack the charger, too. It was great to be able to create her bedtime routine on the road, thanks in part to the Toniebox, which encouraged our toddler to get some shut-eye despite the novelty of being on vacation.
Save $15 On Tonies
You can save $15 on your Tonies purchase when you use our link (you save $15 and we get $15 off our next Tonie for our toddler!).
Toniebox Cons
Limited range at stores
We’ve been hunting for some specific Tonies, such as Paddington Bear. But we didn’t have much luck. I’ve looked at multiple stories in the Bay Area and Dallas, including Target, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Speaking to customer helpers, it seems some Tonies you need to order online.
Would like more bedtime stories
We found that some of the Disney Tonies don’t make great bedtime Tonies because of the music. Our toddler would get amped up when she heard “Let It Go” or another Disney hit. So we quickly realized it was better to stick to Story Tonies at bedtime. However, we haven’t found too many in-store that were appropriate for a three or four-year-old. There were ample Bedtime Tonies for one or two-year-olds.
Price
The Tonies are priced between $17.99 and $23.99, with the price varying depending on whether you purchase your Tonie online or in-store. The cost of the Tonies can quickly add up. So that’s something to keep in mind. But considering a children’s book will typically cost at least $15, Tonies aren’t overly expensive.
Wrapping Up
We’ve reached the end of our Toniebox and Tonies pros and cons.
I would highly recommend the Toniebox to parents who are looking to cut down on the child’s screen time, establish a bedtime routine or encourage some quiet time.
My toddler is obsessed with her Toniebox and Tonies. It’s easily one of our best investments since becoming parents.
You can save $15 on your Toniebox/Tonie purchase if you click the link below.
Kieran runs Life With Klee Kai on social media and other online platforms alongside his wife Yasmin. With over 10 years of experience as a journalist and a passionate dog owner, Kieran loves to combine his passion for pets and writing to share useful insights and product reviews to help other dog owners.